Fastening device.



W. H. HOELL.

FASTENING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1913.

1,165,257. Patented Dec. '21, 1915.

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WILLIAM H- HOELL, 0F GRAND CANE, LOUISIANA.

v FASTENING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l VILLIAM H. HOELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Cane, in the parish of De Soto and State of Louisiana, h'aveinvented new and useful Improvements in Fastening Devices, of which the following is a specification:

The present invention has reference to fastening devices, and it proposes an improved mounting or attachment which, While designed primarily for application to shoe buttons, may be employed in connection with the fasteners utilized in gloves, corsets, skirts and other garments or articles of apparel.

The improvements comprehended in the invention are of such a character that the fastener, when in use, may be readily engaged with and disengaged from its complemental part without necessitating the use of button hooks or other implementsof a like character, and will compensate for expansion or muscular distention of the part of the body whereon the article to which it is applied is worn.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, whereof Figure 1 is a fragmental front elevation of the fly portion of a shoe equipped with the improved fasteners, a portion of thefacing of the shoe being broken away to show the device in place against the lining; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of Fig. 1, with part of the lining of the, shoe and part of the casing which surrounds the spring of one of the fasteners broken away, to disclose the mounting of the fasteners, the latter occupying different positions; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 33, Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a detail view showing one of the fasteners.

In said drawing, 5 indicates, generally, the portion of the article to which the fastener proper 6 is applied, in the present instance, the aforesaid fly or fly portion of an ordinary shoe. The fastener proper 6 is, accordingly, in this instance, constituted by a button of the usual type and is, of course, designed for cooperation with the buttonhole, (not shown), which forms the complemental part of the fastening.

The outer layer or facing 7 of the fly is provided with a longitudinal slot 8, through v which the shank 9 of the button projects, and

this slot is disposed transversely of said facing and is of suflicient length to allow a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

Application filed Ma 15, 1913. Serial No. 767,889.

and contractible element, here shown as a retractile coil spring 10 which is formed of 'fine wire and'is flattened. This springis located between the outer layer or facing 7 and the inner layer or lining 11, and its other end is held in place by means of a stud 12, or the like, to which it is loosely connected, said stud being passed through and fixed in the said facing 7. Hence, the spring is supported at one end by the stud, and at the other end by its connection to the button shank, and is free to expand and contract in the space between the layers 7 and 11. Also, this arrangement prevents the spring from coming into contact with that part of the foot against which the fly bears, and thus protects such parts. The spring may be in-' The operation is believed to be obvious,

but it may be stated that the button, or other fastener proper, is normally held in position at the rear end of the slot by the tension of the spring, but may be drawn forward when it is to be engaged with the buttonhole or other complemental part of the fastening, this extension mounting rendering the use of a buttonhook unnecessary, since the button can be readily manipulated by hand. For the same reason, the fastening will yield during muscular expansion, and will thus permit free movement of the part of the body to which the article whereon it is used is applied. 1 The employment of the case serves to remove the pressure of the stiff outer layer of material from the spring.

While the invention has been represented, and primarily described as applied to a shoe, it is to be understood as not limited to such use, but may be employed in connection with any of the other classes of garments or articles of apparel originally specified. In each instance the construction and arrangement of parts are substantially as above recited; that is to say, the spring is disposed between the facing and inner liningof the Having describedmyinventiom IZcla-i'm The combination With an article of apparel embodying juxtaposed facing-ancPlining layers, said facing layer being provided Wit/h aplurality of transverse slots; of flat retractile coil springs intenposed in said lay; ers and corresponding in number to said Y swea ing and-.. ei. ns f-Q imfi z an ique end witharne i mtedeext ne qnz; :buttsn iior sash 12; a shan moieqt nginomieaqh but and ex nding through; said lots and rigidly connected to oneend of the coil spring adjacent the respective slot; a securing'stud fon;each oli -said springs and extg gl ing through said facing layer, perforated extension and connected with the 0pposite end of said spring, whereby the casing andspring are positively held in position.

testimony-whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses. e 7

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